Apparatus for filling sleeve package



Jan. 24, 1967 J. WEBSTER 3,299,610

I APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE Filed Dec. 24, 1965 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 Z 18 7 \Z n I4 I84 20 x 0 :T 22 1 a a a 3 56 INVENTOR;

Jan. 24, 1967 .1. WEBSTER APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE I 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 24, 1963 INVENTOR: 24,4425

Jan. 24, 1967 J wEBs1-ER 3,299,610

APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE Filed-Dec. 24, 1963 1 she t -s eet 3 INVENTOR:

Jan. 24, 1967 J. WEBSTER APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE l0 heets-Sheet 4 Filed Dec. 24, 1963 INVENTOR:

Jan. 24,1967 EBSTER 3,299,610

' APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE Filed Dec. 24, less w 10 Sheets-Sheet s INVENTOR2 Jan. 24, 1967 J. WEBSTER 3,299,610

APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE Filed Dec. 24, 1963 1o $heets-$heet e INVENTOR J. WEBSTER APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE Jan. 24, 1967 .Filed Dec. 24 1963 10 heets-Sheet '7 R O N E V m Jan. 24, 1967 J. WEBSTER I 3,299,610

APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE Filed Dec. 24, 1963 10 heets-Sheet 8 412 .i Q, 7 @a I e Q Jain. 24, 1967 J. WEBSTER 3,299,610

APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE Filed Dec. 24. 1963 l0 Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTORI fm WM Jan. 24, 1967 J. WEBSTER 3,299,610 I APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE Filed Dec. 24, 1963 v l0 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTORI United States Patent 3,299,610 APPARATUS FOR FILLING SLEEVE PACKAGE James Webster, Waterloo, Liverpool, England, assiguor to Tillotsons (Liverpool) Limited, Bolton, Lancashire England Filed Dec. 24, 1963, Ser. No. 333,091 Claims priority, application Great Britain, July 4, 1962,

. 25,575/ 62 Claims. (Cl. 53--169) This application is a continuation-in-part of my previous application Serial No. 291,990, filed July 1, 1963 and now abandoned.

The present invention relates to apparatus for inserting packages into cartons or retaining sleeves and is applicable though by no means exclusively to the placing of a sleeve over an egg tray to hold the eggs in position.

Anobject of the present invention, is to provide apparatus for inserting a package into a carton or sleeve by moving the package along a predetermined path towards a sleeving station, erecting a carton 0r sleeve from a flattened condition and placing the erected carton or sleeve at the sleeving station with an open end thereof directed along said predetermined path, guiding said package into said open end of said carton or sleeve at said sleeving station whilst holding the carton or sleeve stationary and whilst continuing movement of said package along said predetermined path and discharging the carton or sleeved package from said sleeving station.

Means are preferably provided for sensing a package as it approaches said sleeving station whereby a carton or sleeve is only withdrawn from the magazine if a package is approaching the sleeving station. The track preferably includes a slideway and pushers adapted to push said packages sequentially through said sleeving station in synchronism with said carton or sleeve withdrawing and erecting means. The track may also include a lead-on belt conveyor for leading the packages onto the slideway, means being provided for permitting the packages to move onto the slideway in synchronism with said movement of said pushers. By this means an operator can place a package on the belt conveyor without having to synchronize his actions with the movement of the pushers.

The means for withdrawing and erecting the cartons or sleeves may comprise at least one suction cup adapted to withdraw a flattened carton or sleeve from the magazine and to move the carton or sleeve past a folder plate or against a stop to fold the carton or sleeve into an erect position and preferably also adapted to positively hold the carton or sleeve stationary whilst a package is inserted.

There may be provided an inserter at the sleeving station, such inserter comprising guide means adapted to embrace a package and to enter the carton or sleeve to guide the package into the carton or sleeve. A pusher pushing a package through the sleeving station maintains forward movement of the package and carries the carton or sleeve forward with it whilst the inserter is withdrawn.

The invention is further described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus for sleeving egg trays and having two tracks for sleeving two trays simultaneously;

FIG. 2 is a detail perspective view of sleeving stations of the apparatus;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal section through one of the tracks illustrating the drive means for the various components;

FIG. 4 is a detail perspective view of suction cups for withdrawing a sleeve from the magazine;

3,299,610 Patented Jan. 24, 1967 FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic section of a trip box of the apparatus;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the pneumatic system for operating the suction cups;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a detail of apparatus similar to that of FIGS. 1 to 6 but modified for feeding articles into the opened end of acarto'n;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the carton for use with the apparatus of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a detail of another m'odification' of the apparatus wherein the magazines are arranged to the side of the tracks;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the apparatus of FIG. 9 showing the twin sleeving stations in more detail;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are two different perspective views of sleeves placed about egg trays in the apparatus of FIGS. 9 and 10;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of means fortfeeding the sleeved egg trays of FIGS. 11 and 12 to a device for securing the trays in the sleeves;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of this device and illustrates the punches for rupturing parts of the sleeve; and

FIG. 15 is a view illustrating the drive mechanisrn for the means of FIG. 13 and the device of FIG. 14.

Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, an apparatus for sleeving egg trays comprises two tracks 10 and 12 for moving two egg trays 14 (trays being shown on only the track 10) to respective sleeving stations 16. Each track 10 or 12 comprises a slideway 18 provided with pushers 20 and a lead-on belt conveyor 22. Sleeves 24 in flattened condition are stored in magazines 26 and suction cups 28 are mounted for withdrawing one sleeve at a time from each magazine, moving it past a folder plate 29 disposed at the side of each sleeving station 16 so as to hold the withdrawn sleeve stationary in an erect condition for the insertion of an egg tray (see FIG. 2). The plate 29 has an outwardly inclined upper portion 29a (FIG. 4) for engaging a sleeve as it is withdrawn and assisting in the erection of the sleeve.

An inserter 30 is arranged at each sleeving station 16 for guiding a tray into the sleeve and comprisesapair of thin springy sheet metal fingers 32 secured to a yoke 34. The vfingers 32 are of very springy flexible sheet metal and are inclined towards one another at their free ends which are directed in the direction of advance of the trays (see FIG. 2). As a tray 14 is received between the fingers 32 the fingers 32 are advanced into an open sleeve 24. When the fingers and the tray 14 have entered the sleeve, the sleeve is released from the suction cups by removing the suction, the pushers 20 continue to push the sleeved tray 14 from the sleeving station andthe inserter fingers 32 are withdrawn.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the pushers 20 are mounted at equal intervals on a conveyor chain 36. The conveyor chain is traversed in the direction of the arrows 38 and is supported on sprockets 40, 42 and 44. The pitch circle diameter of the sprockets 40 and 44 is equal to the distance between adjacent pushers 20. The sprocket wheel 40 is mounted on a shaft 46 which is driven by a chain 48 through a reduction gear box 50 from an electric motor 52. The belt conveyor 22 which is comprised of two belts 54 and 56 (see FIG. 1) is'supported on a pair of rollers 58 and 60. The roller 60 is mounted on the same shaft 62 as supports the sprocket 42 but the diameter of the roller 60 is greater than the pitch circle diameter of the sprocket 42 so that the speed of conveyance of the conveyor 22 is greater than that by the pushers 20.

A pair of suction cups 28 is associated with each magazine 26 and is mounted on an arm 64 pivoted about a fixed axis 66 as seen in more detail in FIG. 4. The arm 64 is a,299,e1o

pivotable from an upward position shown in FIG. 1, through an intermediate position shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 to a holding position, shown in chain dotted lines in FIG. 3 and denoted .by 64a, and thence to a lowermost position again shownin chain dotted lines in FIG. 3 and denoted by 64b. Such pivotal movement is effected by a cam 68 on the shaft 46 and co-operating with a cam follower 70 on a crank 72. The crank 72 is pivoted at 7 4 and is linked at its free end by a connecting rod 76 (again see FIG. 4) to the arm 64. The cam follower 70 is urged against the cam 68 by a spring 78 guided on a sliding rod 81) which is connected to the free end of the crank 72.

The yoke 34 carrying fingers 32 of the inserter is supported on a crosshead 82 slidable in slides 84. A connecting rod 86 links the crosshead 82 to a crank 88 which is pivoted at 94). The crank 88 is oscillated by a connecting rod 92 pivoted to an eccentrically disposed pin 94 which is rotated about the same shaft 96 as carries the sprocket 44.

A trip mechanism 100 contains a driving wheel 102 driven through a chain 104 from the shaft 46 and thereby in synchronism with the sprocket 40 and the cam 68. The trip box operates trip lever 106 through a connecting link 1118 and operates valves 110 in the suction lines 112 to the suction cups 28 through connecting rods 114, bell crank levers 116 and push rods 118.

The trip mechanism 100 is shown in more detail in FIG. to which reference will now be made. The sprocket wheel 102 driven by the chain 104 is mounted on a shaft 120. A cam 122 mounted on the shaft 120 co-operates with a follower 124 on a crank 126. One end of the crank 126 is pivoted about a fixed axis 128 and the other end is pivoted to the connecting rod 108 operating the trip levers 106. A spring 139 arranged about the connecting rod 108 urges the follower 124 against the cam 122. A cam 132 and a duplicate thereof are mounted on the shaft 120 and co-operate with respective followers 134 mounted on cranks 136 which are pivoted by one end about the axis 128 independently of the crank 126 and of one another and by their other ends to the respective connecting rods 114. A'spring 138 (see FIG. 3) is arranged about each push rod 118 and operates on the bell crank lever 116 to hold the follower 134 against the cam 132.

It will be appreciated that many of the components described above are duplicated for the two tracks. The trip mechanism 100 is however, common to two tracks and contains a common cam 122 and a common connecting rod 108 for operating individual trip levers 106 (see also FIG. 1) but, as described, it contains individual cams 132 for operating the valves 110.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 5 a sensing lever 140 individual to each track is arranged at each side of the trip mechanism 100. The levers 140 are pivoted at 142 and each is arranged to be lifted by an egg tray as it approaches the sleeving station on the respective track. Each cam 132 is such as to shut off the suction from the suction cups 28 as they approach the folded sleeves 24 in the magazines 26. However when the sensing lever 140 is lifted by a tray it holds the associated crank 136 in a lifted position by means of a push rod 139 to keep the suction on. A sleeve is thereby removed from the magazine as a tray approaches the sleeving station but no sleeve is removed as a pusher approaches the sleeving station without a tray before it.

' FIG. 6 shows in detail the pneumatic system for thesuction cups 28. The suction cups 28 are individually connected by the pipe lines 112 to the valves 110. An air pump 152 driven by an electric motor 154 draws air from a suction main 156 and exhausts it to a pressure main 158. The suction main 156 is connected through an air filter 157 to a normally-closed inlet valve 160 and a suction gauge 162 as well as to individual suction lines 164 leading to the valves 110. The pressure main 158 is connected to a pressure gauge 166 and leads to an oil separator 168 which acts as a silencer. A pipe line 170 leads from the separator 168 to a normally-open outlet valve 172 and also to individual pressure lines 174 leading to the valves 110. Outlet valve 172 is adjusted so that a slight positive pressure is maintained in lines 174.

The valves are change-over valves and in one position suction is applied to the suction cups 28 through the pipe lines 112, 164 and 156; in the other position of the valve-s 110 a slight pressure is applied to the suction cups through the pipe lines 158, 170, 174 and 112 because the air exhausting through the open valve 172 to atmosphere does create a slight pressure drop across this valve. Thus when the valves 110 are in one position suction is applied to the cups 28 so that a sleeve 24 can be withdrawn from a magazine, erected and held stationary in its erected condition in the sleeving station whilst an egg tray is inserted and when the valves 110 are in their other position slight pressure is applied to the suction cups to rapidly break the suction and thereby release the sleeve.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows: When an egg tray 14 is placed on the entry conveyor 22 of one of the tracks 10 and 12 it is normally held back by the appropriate trip lever 106. At the appropriate instant, determined by the angular position of the cam 122 on the shaft and driven by the chain 104, the trip levers 106 are lifted and the tray 14 travels forward on the conveyor 22 and its travel along the track 10 or 12 is continued by a pusher 20. As can be seen from FIG. 3, the conveyor chain 36 has an inclined path 180 below the upper path of the conveyor 22. The trip levers 106 serve to prevent trays 14 from being advanced on to the slideway 18 as a pusher 20 is rising between the two conveyor belts 54 and 56. The angular position of the cams 68 and the shaft 46, which together with the chain 48 gear box 51) and motor 52 is common to the two tracks, is such that as a tray 14 is being advanced along the slideway 18 by a pusher 2% the arm 64 rises towards theupper position shown in FIG. 1. The cams 132 (FIGS. 5 and 6) are such that the suction is on with this upward movement.

If a tray is present in front of a pusher 20 as it approaches a sleeving station it lifts the appropriate sensing lever to keep the suction on and enable the suction cups 28 to hold a flattened sleeve 24 in the magazine 26. The position of the crank pin 94 is such that the tray now enters the inserter 30 which travels forward with the tray into the sleeving station. In the meantime a sleeve 24 is withdrawn from the magazine and is partly opened by a pair of lugs 182 (see FIG. 1) arranged at the two ends of the sleeve atthe exit from the magazine, only the upper lug being seen in the drawing. The sleeves in the slightly opened position shown in FIG. 2 are lowered into position and fully erected by the folder plate 2?. The cam 68 is such as to hold the arm 64 in the holding position 64a whilst the inserter 311 with the tray between its fingers enters the sleeve. A fixed bar 184 (see FIGS. 1 and 3) ensures that the egg tray remains closed as it is moved along the track 10 or 12 into an open sleeve. When a tray is fully inserted in the sleeve the pusher 20 also comes into contact with the sleeve, the arm 64 is lowered to its lowermost position 6412 in which the suction cups 28 are below the level of the slide 18, the valve 111) switches over to remove the suction and the sleeved tray is removed from the sleeving station, the inserter 31) being withdrawn from the sleeve at the same time.

It is inevitable that eggs may occasionally get broken and the contents thereof may enter the suction cups 28 causing a blockage. To clear the blockage the valve is opened and the valve 172 is closed. The effect of this is that little or no suction is applied to the suction cups with the valves 116 in one position and that substantial pressure is applied to the suction cups with the valves 111) in the other position: the blockage may thereby be removed.

Referring now to FIG. 7 of the drawings, there is shown therein a modification of. the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 6 which serves for loading articles, such as fire lighters (not shown), into cartons 224 stored in a flattened condition in a magazine 226. Each carton 224 is of a type having a self-locking bottom i.e. it is such that when it is erected the bottom automatically closes and locks itself closed. When the carton 224 is opened out into its erected condition as shown in FIG. 8 the top end remains open. ventional side flaps 223 and a tuck 225.

The magazine 226 is arranged above and is inclined downwardly towards the sleeving station 216 through which runs the track 12. The track 12 like that of FIG. 1 comprises a slideway 18 provided with pushers 20. The inserter 30 however is omitted and instead there are .provided a finger 284 and a pair of spring loaded flaps 232. The flaps 232 normally take up the position shown in FIG. 7. When an article is advanced along the track.12 by the pusher 20 it engages the flaps 232 and pushes them up against the flaps 223 of an erected carton 224 and so ensures proper entry of the article into the open end of the carton. The finger 284 engages beneath the tuck 225 of the carton and so ensures that the tuck is held clear of the advancing article when the carton is erected.

Suction cups similar to those of the apparatus of FIGS.

1 to 6 are provided for withdrawing and erecting the cartons: likewise a folder plate 29 having an outwardly inclined upper portion 29a is provided for ensuring proper erection of the articles.

A sensing lever 140 is provided as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6 for ensuring that suction is only a plied to the suction cups (not seen in FIG. 7) when an article is being advanced to the article sleeving station 216.

The cartoned article is pushed clear of the sleeving station 216 by continued movement of the pusher 20 and thence rolls under gravity down a roller conveyor 221 to a suitably disposed receptacle or further conveyor. The cartons can be closed manually by folding in the flaps 223 and tucking in the tuck 225.

Other parts of the apparatus not shown in FIG. 7 are like those of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 6 and work in conjunction with the trip mechanism 100 and the track 12 as described with reference to those figures. Twin tracks, twin magazines etc., may be provided as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6'.

FIGS. 9 and 10 of the drawings show a further modification of the apparatus of FIGS. 1 to 6 for sleeving egg trays 314 with sleeves 324. The tray 314 is a well known type of tray in the form of a pulp moulding folded in concertina fashion to enable the tray to hold twelve eggs arranged in two rows of six. Lower folds extend longitudinally of the tray along the bottoms of the egg compartments and an upper fold runs between the egg compartments. Whereas the tray 14 of FIG. 1 comprises a bottom hinged to a lid which has to be held down by the sleeve, the tray 314 of FIG. 11 has to be held at the sides to prevent it opening out. Thus as can be seen from FIG. 9, side walls 301 of the track 12 are spaced an appropriate distance apart to hold the trays 314 in a folded condition. FIG. 9 shows a pusher of the track 12 but the egg tray is omitted in order to show clearly spring biassed flaps 332 hinged to the ends of the walls 301 at the beginning of the sleeving station 316.

Contrary to the embodiments of FIGS. '1 to 7 the magazines 326 in the embodiment of FIGS. 9 and 10 are arranged to the sides of their respective sleeving station 316. These magazines support sleeves 324 in a flattened condition but are slightly inclined downwardly towards the sleeving station so as to feed sleeves 324 against lugs 382 which hold the sleeves in the magazine until they are withdrawn by means of suction cups 328.

There are three suction cups 328 (only two of which can be seen in FIG. 10) at each sleeving station 316 and these are connected to the pneumatic system by a pipe line 112. The suction cups 328 are mounted on bars 329 depending from a supporting rod 364. The rod The top end of the carton is provided with con- 364 is journalled to rollers 366 (only one of which is seen) which run in curved slots 367 in cam plates 365. In addition, vertical rods 363 secured to the supporting rod 364 are vertically guided between rollers 369 journalled in slide blocks 371. The slide blocks 371 are provided with a further pair of rollers 373 (only one of which can be seen in the drawing) and these rollers run. in straight slots 375 in the cam plates 365. Therefore whatever position is taken up by the supporting rod 364, the rods 363 are constrained to remain vertical which keeps the suction cups 328 facing in a horizontal direction. The rods 364 are caused to reciprocate in synchronism with the movement of the pusher 20 by a connecting rod (not shown) similar to the connecting rod 76 seen in FIG. 3. The slots 367 constrain the rod and therefore also the suction cups 328 to move in a curved path. The suction cups in their uppermost position come into contact with the upper wall 325 of a sleeve whilst the lower edge 327 of the sleeve is held against lugs 323 arranged at the bottom of the magazine. The curve of the slots 367 is such that the sleeve is erected by the suction cups 328 and finally pulled off the lugs 323 whilst the wall 325 is held hard against plates 321 which thereby ensures that the sleeves are held stationary and fully erected whilst the egg trays are inserted.

The position of the spring biassed flaps 332 is such that as a tray is advanced by a pusher 26 these flaps are pushed into the interior of an open sleeve at the sleeving station 316 to guide the tray into the sleeve. The sleeve with the tray therein is withdrawn from the sleeving station by continued movement of the pusher 20 whereupon the flaps 332 return to their position illustrated in FIG. 9 under the spring bias.

To ensure that sleeves are only withdrawn from the magazine when a tray is being advanced to the sleeving station there is provided a trip feeler 340 hinged to an aperture in one of the side walls 301. The feeler 340 has a curved leading edge 339 so that it will not foul an advancing tray. The feeler 340 co-operates with a cam mechanism of the trip mechanism in a similar manner as is described with reference to the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 6.

Apart from the details illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10 the embodiment of these two figures is otherwise similar to and performs in the manner of the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 6.

As shown in the lower part of FIG. 12, each sleeve 324 has scorings 401 such that when pressure is applied to the scored sleeve portions 402, they are pressed between the egg receiving compartments of the tray 314 as shown in the upper part of FIG. 12. FIGS. 13, 14 and 15 illustrated a device for performing this function automatically. Such a device is arranged in line with and beyond the end of each track 10 or 12. Each device includes a catcher 410 adapted to pick up a sleeved egg tray being expelled from the sleeving station 316 of FIG. 10 by the pusher 20. The catcher comprises a crosshead 412 mounted for sliding movement in longitudinal channels 414, a air of which can also be seen in FIG. 10. The crosshead is linked by a connecting rod 416 to a crank 418 secured to a horizontal shaft 420. The shaft 420 is caused to reciprocate rotationally by a mechanism to be described later. This rotational reciprocation causes the crosshead 412 to move back and forth. FIG. 13 shows the crosshead just before it completes its back motion. A pair of fingers 422 are hinged to the crosshead and are biased downwardly by springs 424. On completion of the back movement of the crosshead the fingers 422 drop down behind the sleeve 324. The subsequent forward movement of the crosshead 412 is quicker than the advancing movement of the pushers and the sleeved tray is drawn clear of the pusher to a punching station 426 where the sleeved tray remains until pushed out by the next advancing tray.

Whilst the tray is at the punching station 426, the

scored sleeve portions 402 are pressed inwardly, as shown in the upper part of FIG. 12, by a pair of punches 428 which are caused to reciprocate vertically by a mechanism still to be described. An upper slide 430 is provided at the punching station 426 to prevent the punches from lifting the sleeve.

As shown in FIG. 15, a cam shaft 432 is caused to rotate by a chain 434 entrained about a sprocket wheel 436 and driven from a reduction gear box corresponding to the gear box 50 shown in FIG. 3. The cam shaft 432 is therefore driven in synchronism with the pushers. A cam 438 on the shaft 432 co-operates with a follower 440 journalled to a lever 442. The lever 442 is pivoted at 444 and a tension spring 446 is provided for holding the cam follower 440 against the cam 438.

A rack 448 is connected by a rod 450 to the free end of the lever 442 and engages in a pinion (not shown) inside a gear box 452 and secured to the shaft 420. Thus rotation of the cam shaft 432 causes the back and forth motion of the crosshead 412.

A sprocket chain 454 is secured by one end to and is entrained about a sprocket wheel 455 also fixedly mounted on the shaft 429. The other end of the chain 454 is connected to a tension spring 456 which thereby serves to take up any lost motion in the rack 448 and pinion and in the pivots and so avoids any jerky movement of the crosshead 412.

A cam 458 also on the cam shaft 432 co-operates with a follower 46f journalled to a crosshead 462. The crosshead is attached to the lower ends of push rods (not shown) to upper ends of which the punches 428 are secured and which are constrained to slide vertically in bearing blocks 464. A pair of compression springs 466 serve to hold the follower 460 in engagement With the cam 458. Rotation of the shaft 432 by the chain 434 therefore causes the punches 428 to reciprocate in synchronism with the crosshead 412 and movement of the pushers.

Since there are twin tracks shown in FIG. 10 there are twin punching stations 426 and twin catchers 41G provided. However, only one shaft 42$) is required for reciprocating both catchers but separate cams 458 are required on the shaft 432.

In operation, as a sleeve 324 containing a tray 314 is being pushed out of a sleeving station by a pusher, the corresponding catcher is moved back as shown in FIG. 13. In the extreme rearward position of the catcher 410, the fingers 422 drop behind the rear edge of the sleeve and the subsequent advance of the catcher 416) moves the sleeve 324 and tray in synchronism with but at a faster speed than the pusher. The sleeve is advanced clear of the pusher into the punching station 426 at which it remains until after the punching operation. After the advance of the catcher 410 the punches 428 are raised pushing the sleeve against the upper slide 430 and pushing the scored portions 402 of the sleeve inwards between the egg receiving compartments of the tray 314. This prevents the tray from accidentally sliding out of the sleeve subsequently. The punches 428 are again lowered but the sleeve and tray remain in the punching station until they are pushed out by the next advancing sleeved tray.

I claim:

1. In apparatus for inserting packages into carton members open at at least one end thereof: the combination comprising a track including means for moving the packages sequentially through a sleeving station; a magazine for containing a stack of carton members in a flattened condition; at least one suction cup; means supporting said suction cup for movement from said magazine to said sleeving station; reciprocatory drive means for said supporting means for withdrawal of the carton members by said suction cup one at a time from the magazine and holding the withdrawn carton member stationary at said sleeving station; fixed means for engaging said carton members as they are moved from said magazine to said sleeving station to erect the withdrawn carton member so that said open end thereof is directed along said track to receive a package therein when the withdrawn carton member is held stationary at the sleeving station; a pneumatic system connected to said suction cup; control means for said pneumatic system for applying suction to said suction cup as it is moved from the magazine to the sleeving station and whilst a package enters the erected carton member; guide means disposed at opposite sides of said track in advance of said sleeving station; means supporting said guide means for movement into said open end of said carton member when held erect at said sleeving station to guide a package into said carton member; and means for synchronizing said control means, said reciprocatory drive means and said package moving means.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which said track including said package moving means comprises a slideway extending past the sleeving station; spaced pusher means movable longitudinally of said slideway; and means for traversing said pusher means along said slideway to push said packages sequentially through said sleeving station.

3. The combination according to claim 2 further comprising a lead-on belt conveyor at the entry end of said slideway for leading packages on to the slideway.

4. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said magazine is above said track and said means for engaging said carton members includes a folder plate arranged at one side of the sleeving station and extending longitudinally of said stack.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said magazine is arranged above said track and is inclined downwardly towards said sleeving station and said suction cup supporting means comprises means mounting said suction cup for movement in an arcuate path from said magazine to said sleeving station.

6. The combination according to claim 4 in which the folder plate has an outwardly inclined upper portion for engaging a carton member as it is withdrawn and assisting in its erection.

7. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said magazine is arranged adjacent to and to one side of said track and said suction cup supporting means comprises means mounting said suction cup for movement in a curved path from said magazine to said sleeving station and wherein said means for engaging said carton members comprises lug means mounted adjacent the magazine and the sleeving station.

8. The combination according to claim 7 including a plate arranged at one side of the sleeving station for engagement with a carton member as it is held at said sleeving station to ensure that the carton member is fully erected.

9. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises inserted means capable of embracing a package and capable of entering said open end of an erected carton member; and said means supporting said guide means comprises means mounting said inserter means for reciprocating movement longitudinally of said track between a position in advance of said sleeving station and said sleeving station itself so that a package being advanced into said sleeving station by said moving means first enters said inserter means and is guided thereby into an erected carton member.

10. The combination according to claim 9 wherein said inserter means comprises a pair of springy fingers the distal ends of which are directed towards said sleeving station and are slightly inclined towards one another.

11. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said guide means comprises a spring biased flap at each side of the track in advance of the sleeving station and said means supporting said guide means comprises hinge means mounting said flaps for engagement by a package being moved into the sleeving station to cause said flaps to engage flaps at the open end of an erected carton member in order to guide the package into the erected carton member.

12.. The combination according to claim 11 wherein the carton members comprise cartons with a tuck at said open end thereof and which further includes a finger above the track in advance of the sleeving station for engaging said tuck of a carton erected at the sleeving station to prevent the tuck fouling the package.

13. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said suction cup is mounted for movement from the magazine to the bottom of the sleeving station so as to hold a withdrawn carton member stationary by a bottom panel thereof.

14. The combination according to claim 1 including means in said pneumatic system and operated by said control means for applying slight positive pressure to said suction cup when suction is removed therefrom.

15. In apparatus for inserting packages into carton members open at at least one end thereof: the combination comprising a track including means for moving the packages sequentially through .a sleeving station; a magazine for containing a stack of carton members in a flattened condition; at least one suction cup; means supporting said suction cup for reciprocatory movement between said magazine and said sleeving station; a pneumatic system connected to said suction cup for applying suction thereto as the latter is moved from said magazine to said sleeving station to withdraw a carton member from the magazine and hold it stationary at said sleeving station; means for engaging a carton member as it is withdrawn from said magazine to erect the carton member so that said open end thereof is directed along said track; and sensing means for sensing a package as it approaches said sleeving station for influencing said pneumatic system so that suction is not applied to the suction cup when no package is approaching the sleeving station.

16. In apparatus for inserting packages into carton members open at at least one end thereof: the combination comprising a slideway extending from an entry end, past a sleeving station and to an exit end; spaced pusher means movable longitudinally of said slideway; means for traversing said pusher means along said slideway to push packages sequentially through said sleeving station; a lead-on belt conveyor at said entry end of said slideway for leading packages onto said slideway; stop means adjacent said belt conveyor for arresting movement of a package thereon; means for releasing said stop means in synchronism with said pusher traversing means to permit a package to move from said belt conveyor onto said slideway into the space between adjacent pusher means; a magazine for containing a stack of carton members in a flattened condition; at least one suction cup; means supporting said suction cup for reciprocating movement from said magazine to, said sleeving station; means for effecting such reciprocating movement in synchronism with said pusher traversing means; a pneumatic system connected with said suction cup; control means for said pneumatic system synchronized with said pusher traversing means for ensuring suction is applied to said suction cup during its movement from said magazine to said sleeving station and whilst a package enters an erected carton member thereat; means for engaging a carton member as it is withdrawn from said magazine and placed at said sleeving station to erect the withdrawn carton member so that it lies at said sleeving station with said open end of said carton member directed along said slideway; and guide means for guiding the packages into the erected carton members whilst they are held stationary at said sleeving station by said suction cup.

17. In apparatus for inserting packages into carton members open at at least one end thereof: the combination comprising a slideway extending from an empty end, past a sleeving station and to an exit end; spaced pusher means movable longitudinally of said slideway; means for traversing said pusher means along said slideway to push packages sequentially through said sleeving station; a lead-on belt conveyor at said entry end of said slideway for leading packages onto said slideway; stop means adjacent said belt conveyor for-arresting movement of a package thereon; means for releasing said stop means in synchronism with said pusher traversing means to permit a package to move from said belt conveyor onto said slideway into the space between adjacent pusher means; a magazine for containing a stack of carton members in a flattened condition; means for Withdrawing the carton members one at a time from the magazine, erecting the withdrawn carton member and holding it stationary at said sleeving station with said open end of the carton member directed along said track; and means synchronizing said carton member withdrawing means with said pusher traversing means so that as a package is moved into said sleeving station it enters an erected carton member thereat.

18. In apparatus for inserting egg trays into sleeves each having a scored portion adapted to be pressed inwardly between egg-receiving compartments of a tray: the combination comprising a track including means for moving the egg trays sequentially through a sleeving station; a magazine for containing a stack of sleeves in a flattened condition; means for withdrawing the sleeves one at a time from the magazine, erecting a withdrawn sleeve and holding it stationary at said sleeving station with an open end of the sleeve directed along said track to receive an egg tray therein; a punching station beyond the sleeving station; a catcher for transferring the sleeved trays from said track to said punching station; a punch at said punching station for punching the scored portion of the sleeve inwardly between egg-receiving compartments of the tray; and means for driving the catcher and the punch in synchronism with the tray moving means of said track.

19. The combination according to claim 18 wherein said punch is disposed at the bottom of said punching station for vertical reciprocation and further comprising a slide arranged at the top of the punching station to prevent the sleeve lifting under the influence of the punch.

20. The combination according to claim 18 which includes a drive mechanism for reciprocating the catcher in such a manner that the sleeved trays may be transferred to the punching station at a speed greater than the speed of the tray moving means of the track.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,082,565 6/1937 Benoit 53169 2,438,811 3/1948 LeSage 5374 X 2,651,896 9/1953 Woodruif et al. 53l47 X 2,764,334 9/ 1956 Schwertfeger 5335 X 2,815,623 12/1957 Holstebroe et al. 5358 2,966,020 12/1960 Bacsak 53l69 X 3,238,698 3/ 1966 Hollenton 53258 GRANVILLE Y. CUSTER, JR., Primary Examiner.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No 3 ,299 ,610 January 24 1967 James Webster It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read as corrected below.

In the heading to the printed specification, line 8 after "25,575/62" insert --;Oct. 3, 1963, 38,308/63 Signed and sealed this 14th day of November 1967 (SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD J. BRENNER Edward M. Fletcher, Ir.

Commissioner of Patents Attesting Officer 

1. IN APPARATUS FOR INSERTING PACKAGES INTO CARTON MEMBERS OPEN AT LEAST ONE END THEREOF: THE COMBINATION COMPRISING A TRACK INCLUDING MEANS FOR MOVING THE PACKAGES SEQUENTIALLY THROUGH A SLEEVING STATION; A MAGAZINE FOR CONTAINING A STACK OF CARTON MEMBERS IN A FLATTENED CONDITION; AT LEAST ONE SUCTION CUP; MEANS SUPPORTING SAID SUCTION CUP FOR MOVEMENT FROM SAID MAGAZINE TO SAID SLEEVING STATION; RECIPROCATORY DRIVE MEANS FOR SAID SUPPORTING MEANS FOR WITHDRAWAL OF THE CARTON MEMBERS BY SAID SUCTION CUP ONE AT A TIME FROM THE MAGAZINE AND HOLDING THE WITHDRAWN CARTON MEMBER STATIONARY AT SAID SLEEVING STATION; FIXED MEANS FOR ENGAGING SAID CARTON MEMBERS AS THEY ARE MOVED FROM SAID MAGAZINE TO SAID SLEEVING STATION TO ERECT THE WITHDRAWN CARTON MEMBER SO THAT SAID OPEN END THEREOF IS DIRECTED ALONG SAID TRACK TO RECEIVE A PACKAGE THEREIN WHEN THE WITHDRAWN CARTON MEMBER IS HELD STATIONARY AT THE SLEEVING STATION; A PNEUMATIC SYSTEM CONNECTED TO SAID SUCTION CUP; CONTROL MEANS FOR SAID PNEUMATIC SYSTEM FOR APPLYING SUCTION TO SAID SUCTION CUP AS IT IS MOVED FROM THE MAGAZINE TO THE 